Kohli played a key role in RCB's maiden IPL title win earlier this year.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has rubbished rumours of Virat Kohli’s potential retirement from the Indian Premier League (IPL), calling them "completely baseless."
Speculations about Kohli’s IPL future started doing rounds after reports claimed that RCB might soon be sold to a new ownership group.
The uncertainty over whether Kohli has signed his new commercial contract with the franchise further fueled rumours. However, Kaif expressed full confidence that Kohli will continue to represent RCB in the IPL.
“Is Virat Kohli retiring from IPL? No guys, Virat Kohli had promised that he will play his first and last match for Bengaluru only. He has promised this and since he has done it, he will not back out. But people are saying he hasn’t signed a commercial deal. There are two deals, players’ contract and commercial contract," Kaif said in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
Kaif also clarified that delay in Kohli signing his commercial contract could be due to the impending ownership transition at RCB.
“The reason he has not signed a commercial contract is because a new owner might come for RCB and they will control the franchise. That’s why he is waiting, if there’s a change, then there will be negotiation and all. These are all behind the scenes stuff and we don’t have a lot of information about these things. He is waiting for all that," he added.
Kaif believes Kohli remains deeply loyal to RCB and has no plans to switch franchises. He further emphasized Kohli’s crucial contribution to RCB’s maiden IPL title win earlier this year.
“Virat Kohli has started playing only now. RCB has began winning trophies now. Kohli scored 650+ runs and made them win the trophy. He made runs in the Champions Trophy 2025, he was the Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup 2024 final and was the Player of the Tournament in the 2023 World Cup. He has only started playing now. Now you have to wait for more. He is going nowhere. He will play only for RCB. He has promised it to the fans and he will not break it," Kaif remarked.